ATP 1000: Indian Wells

Exciting matches on the programme tonight ad both halves of the draw merge

Starting at 6 PM UK time:

Court1
Simon-Anderson
WTA match
Federer-Wawrinka
Nadal-Gulbis
WTA match
Djokovic-Querrey (3.30 AM )

Court2
after a doubles match, about 8 PM
Raonic-Tsonga
Berdych-Gasquet
Murray-Berlocq (NB 12.00 AM)
Haas-Del Potro

The thing is they don;t train as hard as they make us believe. Working hard wears and tears the body and that is the last thing they need when getting on court. They work smartly but I doubt they work much more outside matches than the Wilander or Lendl.

That's the funny thing.

Tenez wrote:The thing is they don;t train as hard as they make us believe. Working hard wears and tears the body and that is the last thing they need when getting on court. They work smartly but I doubt they work much more outside matches than the Wilander or Lendl.

That's the funny thing.

One look at their legs will tell you they do. And I am talking Federer and Novak, not Murray & Berdych, let alone Tipsarevic.
They do have more advanced fitness machines available now, medicine, fitness coaches etc...I know that Novak cycles on a stationary bike underwater waist down, and also does a lot of hard outdoor cycling during off-season.

I also think that only top players can afford exclusive fitness teams, lower ranking players can't which is why they get injured more. You only need to overdo it once or twice and tendons are gone, you have to continually keep resting them.
Also some players are naturally more prone to injuries, and that's the real tragedy for any of them.

Well yes. I think getting injured is essentially about not knowing your own limits....or tiredness (not knowing/feeling) one is tired and doing the move muscles can no longer control.

Simon Big Kev starting, will be fun to see how Simon tames Anderson's power. Roughly three people in the crowd

Anderson not falling into Simon's boa's grip yet, on the contrary - attacks anything remotely attackable Simon throws at him....which Simon registers immediately and starts pulling the trigger himself rather than keep trying to hypnotise Kev with his cross-court lullaby.
This could be a very good match.

Simon ...walked the tightrope to the last point...but Kev the Future of tennis blasts his way into the final. Disgusting serve to return when on!

Over to Tsonga-Raonic. Another Future of tennis blaster.....c'mon Jo!!!!!

Jo seems injured unfortanetly. We were talking about it earlier isn;t it of how tough it is nowadays.

On sky they were talking about your survey (# of MTOs allowed, etc...).

I am not sure why you don't like Rao. Well I am not a bog either, I just like the fact he is trying aggressive beyond his serve (now returns, FHs and even BHs). I want him to reach the top asap. He will get there bar injuries.

Tenez wrote:Jo seems injured unfortanetly. We were talking about it earlier isn;t it of how tough it is nowadays.

On sky they were talking about your survey (# of MTOs allowed, etc...).

I am not sure why you don't like Rao. Well I am not a bog either, I just like the fact he is trying aggressive beyond his serve (now returns, FHs and even BHs). I want him to reach the top asap. He will get there bar injuries.

Tbh, I actually went to have a little kip after the first set, that's how engaging I found the match...
I don't dislike Raonic, but he has very little of I do like in tennis players: he is badly proportioned, too tall, zero flair and all ball-blasting. Plus he has that terrible yank accent and carries on like one. I also don't think he is that bright.

Sometimes he's good to see when in full-flow, but only in small doses for me.


Just like Anderson in his match against Simon, it's a big serve and than unnatural amount of power for a normal tennis game, it's soulless. They are doing nothing wrong per se, just I don't enjoy watching that kind of power-fest.

I like him when he plays Murray or Nadal, though

Well Rao was just too tensed on the big points. He lost 2 sets when he had to serve to stay in the match. Shame cause he woul have been a good opposition to Djoko while I can't see an injured Tsonga beating Djoko.

Disappointing....but glad for Tsonga.

He,he, I just tuned in to see Tsonga Happy dance in slo-mo

No, I don't think Raonic is any threat for Nole. Tsonga is a lot tougher opponent injured or not.

I'm keen to see how Novak plays tonight as he has looked really, really REALLY odd aginst Dimitrov.
Querrey when he plays well will be better than Dimitrov last night.

Tenez wrote:Well Rao was just too tensed on the big points. He lost 2 sets when he had to serve to stay in the match. Shame cause he woul have been a good opposition to Djoko while I can't see an injured Tsonga beating Djoko.

Disappointing....but glad for Tsonga.

OK, here is a question for Tenez: why was Rao too tense?
Lack of experience - can't be.
Lack of confidence - why should it with his service technique?
.....?

Yes of course lack of experience and confidence. Both will improve in due time. Didn't Djoko messed up 3 set points on his serve when he faced Fed in USO 07? And Rao's serve is exactly the problem. It's a fine stroke but like all fine stroke they are sensitive to nerves unlike moonballs.

Rao is at a very key point. He might always tense up in tough situation or he might get over and never look back. What will make him go one way more than the other could be luck as well as how much better his grounds shots improve. Once he improves that he won't feel as much pressure on his serve.

Wow, this is like opening birthday presents (well,at least in films), another match on : Berdych - Gasquet and another big blaster, except that Berd is at least elegant while blasting.
How will Richard's backhand hold, and will he come close to baseline tonight and attack from inside the court like he seems to be doing this year, or will he be pushed miles back and wave his wand from there?
I'm going to make myself a coffee now but don't have any s!
I like these pink smileys all of a sudden...now there's one left.....

Who do you think Fed would prefer to play in the QF: Nadal or Berdych?

One thing about Berd, he doesn't waste a single shot!

noleisthebest wrote:Who do you think Fed would prefer to play in the QF: Nadal or Berdych?

Fit Fed woudl love to play Nadal again. With a bad back...Berdych. He still had 3 MPS with a bad back last time around.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Who do you think Fed would prefer to play in the QF: Nadal or Berdych?

Fit Fed woudl love to play Nadal again. With a bad back...Berdych. He still had 3 MPS with a bad back last time around.

Let's hope he plays Gulbis

Berdych's moving is absurd....for such a big guy. His legs are just ridiculous. He and Murray are on the same diet. Frogs legs for breakfast.

BP conversion: Gasquet 0/6 Berdych 3/3 (well now 3/4).

Gasquet sinking fast. Watching Kvitova Kirlilenko. Kvitova receiving coaching in the changeover. I don't get it why it's not private but the whole world can listen to it.....

Back to Gasquet-Bedrych just in time to see Gasquet break to 2 all.....All matches today in 3 sets, can this one go all the way, too?

What an odd MTO, Berd whould've waited for the end of that game. You can't just disturb someone's serve like that....another rule to check in the Tennis Rule Book

That should never ever happen.

If you have a physical problem you have to wait for the end of your opponent game. You simply cannot disrupt his serve. If Berdych really needs to stop then he shoudl give Gasquet teh game.

This is really absurd!!!!

Well, at least id didn't disturb Gasquet in the end...

No but it disturbs me.

I can't stand Berdych...Sorry Paul but Berdych is simply going downhill in my regards.

That backhand must've felt sooooooo good

Yes great BH but frankly those second serve returns are terrible. That is why he has such a poor BP conversion rate.

If Gasquet had half of Simon's brain......

Is Newcastle now commenting on sky? He is just a joke commentator.

Tenez wrote:Is Newcastle now commenting on sky? He is just a joke commentator.

Poor you! Mind you, I'm not in better luck some useless Yank and an anonymous Aussie....on tennistv. My subscription running out on Sunday ,I don't think I'm going to renew it. Robbie was there for one of the earlier matches, I forgot which one now it's all one blurrrrr

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:Is Newcastle now commenting on sky? He is just a joke commentator.

Poor you! Mind you, I'm not in better luck some useless Yank and an anonymous Aussie....on tennistv. My subscription running out on Sunday ,I don't think I'm going to renew it. Robbie was there for one of the earlier matches, I forgot which one now it's all one blurrrrr

Yes I I have heard them depending on the link I clik. But they are about Gasquet making the mistake to return too soft.

It's not brain his problem (Simon's), it's guts. ANd neither (Simon and Gasquet) have much of it.

Unlike Simon's, Gasquet's shot selection is really poor. I think Simon would play better than Gasquet if he had his shots.

And out goes Gasquet...threw it away in the second set, very average returning.

And now Fed & Stan show....I can't remember the last time I watched so muc tennis, I even played some this morning and am due on again tomorrow morning

Fed looking sharp and smooth as ever, good to see Mirka's massage worked well

Eh....Fed is playing average...certainly not forcing it too much. He lose his first serve to love but Stan is nervous and spraying all over the place.

Federer moonballing a lot to break (especially from his BH which actually requires skills) Stan's rhythm. And it works.

That was a beautiful backhand exchange at the net.....

BAN DBH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW !!!!!!

Is there anything Federer cannot do with that backhand?
Open a bottle of champagne, perhaps...

Yes he is pretty good with it. Not the most powerful SHBH but the most versatile.

Today feels like second Monday at Wimbledon.

i hope so, then feds will beat murray in the final

Robbie throwing one of his perls now, after Stan passed Fed, he said with his enthusiastic voice: Now, that's a ticket to the party !!!

Whatever Fed does, I can do better!!!
No, Stan, you don't need to choke the break away

Yes he is pretty good with it. Not the most powerful SHBH but the most versatile.

A quick switch to Murray-Berlocq - 4 all. I forgot who Berlocq was, until I saw the face now.....and how he choked that third set against Nadal in Chile......

Tenez wrote:Yes he is pretty good with it. Not the most powerful SHBH but the most versatile.

I'd take it any day

Stan d' Man releases his Aussie self....
In the meantime, Berlocq breaks Murray and is serving or the set now ...aaand chokes it away 5 all

noleisthebest wrote:A quick switch to Murray-Berlocq - 4 all. I forgot who Berlocq was, until I saw the face now.....and how he choked that third set against Nadal in Chile......

Against Horacio it was wasn't it? Certainly in Chile...ah you mean in Argentina.